NSW considers cosmetic crack down

After a spate of private cosmetic surgery patients suffering cardiac arrests on the operating table, the NSW Government is considering a cosmetic surgery crackdown.

The Department of Health report released on Wednesday pointed out a regulatory gap in the industry that allows major surgery including breast and penis enlargements to take place in local cosmetic clinics.

"NSW Health is considering whether further legislation of the cosmetic industry is required," said Health Minister Jillian Skinner.

In September, Mrs Skinner sent inspectors to The Cosmetic Institute after two of the clinic's patients suffered cardiac arrests just months apart while undergoing breast augmentations.

The clinic has since come under investigation from the health care watchdog for alleged misuse of anaesthetics.

While practitioners have to adhere to strict regulations, facilities are regulated depending on the type of anaesthesia class they fall under.

The report states that while in the past procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation happen in hospital under general anaesthetic, they were now routinely conducted in clinics using local anaesthetic.

Private clinics are able to offer cut price procedures because patients aren't responsible for extras such as hospital fees, facility fees and agency nurses fees.

The government is considering introducing a new class of cosmetic licences to cover the gap and welcome submissions from the industry.